The surge in international visitors during the Qatar Economic Forum (QEF) 2024 witnessed a demand for luxury accommodations and dining experiences, boosting the country’s tourism sector, an industry expert said.

“This influx of visitors promotes inbound tourism and boosts demand for hotels, restaurants, transportation, and other hospitality services in Qatar and enhances the country’s reputation as a premier destination for business and leisure travel,” Outing Qatar founder and managing director Mosaad Moustafa Eleiwa told a media

He stressed that such a prestigious event has become a cornerstone in attracting investors, fostering partnerships, and showcasing Qatar’s expanding economic landscape.

The forum serves as a global platform for discussions on economic matters, investment opportunities, and networking, attracting a diverse array of participants, including diplomatic dignitaries, business leaders, and media representatives, according to Eleiwa.

Hosting high-profile events like QEF, he pointed out, also provides a unique opportunity to showcase Qatar’s rich cultural heritage and modern infrastructure.

Eleiwa underlined the networking opportunities facilitated by QEF, where luxury tourism companies curate experiences for attendees: from hosting events on luxury yachts to exceptional car rental services.

What sets QEF apart from other events, according to Eleiwa, is its alignment with Qatar’s national strategy 2030, focusing on economic diversification, sustainable development, and investment in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and fintech.

“QEF stands out as a unique event in the country due to several distinctive features as with the high-profile attendees, influential decisions and partnerships can be easily made,” he said.

Eleiwa said events and exhibitions related to QEF create additional business and job opportunities as he outlined its short-term, medium-term, and long-term implications on Qatar’s tourism and business sectors.

He added that the ease of establishing companies through the Qatar Financial Centre and other government institutions provided a platform for launching new businesses.

He said this was evident in the recurring visits of company owners to the country, who had the opportunity to experience the city along with their families.

“Overall, QEF 2024 served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action, laying the groundwork for advancing tourism, business, and investment in Qatar and the wider region.

It underscored the importance of partnerships, innovation, and sustainability in driving economic development and prosperity for all,” Eleiwa added.

Aer Lingus launches a new Dublin to Denver route, offering travelers attractive discounts and enhanced connectivity between Ireland and Colorado.

Aer Lingus proudly launches its direct Dublin to Denver route, marking the airline’s most significant North American expansion to date. Operating four times a week with an Airbus A330, the new service offers travelers discounts of €100 on Economy and €200 on Business fares for bookings made by May 19th, applicable for travel from August 1st to November 30th.

Susanne Carberry, Chief Customer Officer of Aer Lingus, emphasizes the route’s importance for both the airline’s growth and Denver’s enhanced connectivity to Europe. Passengers will experience Aer Lingus’ renowned hospitality, featuring gourmet meals, top-tier entertainment, and improved Wi-Fi. This direct connection is set to foster stronger ties between Ireland and Colorado’s business and tourism sectors.

Denver, famous for its vibrant outdoor activities, rich cultural scene, and lively nightlife, offers endless exploration opportunities for travelers. Additionally, those flying to North America can take advantage of complimentary amenities and US Customs and Border pre-clearance at Dublin and Shannon airports.

A stunning new marble mausoleum in Agra is attracting visitors and drawing comparisons to the Taj Mahal, captivating tourists with its impressive grandeur.

A stunning new white marble structure in Agra, which took over a century to complete, is now drawing a large number of visitors. These visitors often compare the iconic Taj Mahal to the newly built mausoleum of the Radha Soami sect’s founder in Soami Bagh, located about 12 km from the Taj Mahal. This pristine white marble edifice has become a major attraction for tourists in Agra, impressing many with its grandeur and rivaling the Taj Mahal, thus enhancing the city’s architectural heritage known for its Mughal-era monuments.

Unlike the Taj Mahal, which was constructed in 22 years by numerous skilled artisans and craftsmen under a medieval authoritarian regime in the 17th century, the Soami Bagh mausoleum’s construction spanned over a century in an open society. Pramod Kumar, a devout follower of the faith, stated that the mausoleum’s construction exemplifies the creators’ unwavering faith, fervor, and dedication driven by their religious beliefs.

The towering 193-foot structure, built entirely from white marble sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan, stands on a foundation of 52 wells, marking one of India’s most ambitious projects.

Dedicated to Param Purush Pooran Dhani Swamiji Maharaj, the founder of the Radha Soami faith, this grand mausoleum is located in the Soami Bagh colony in Agra’s Dayalbagh area. Each day, a significant number of tourists visit the mausoleum. While entrance is free, photography is prohibited.

According to reports, some minor additions are still pending. Visitors can still see craftsmen at work. “Now, we have huge grinders, cutters, finishers, lorries, lifters, and all kinds of machines and computer technology, which were used to great advantage here, and the results are evident,” said an official associated with the project.

Visitors have started drawing comparisons between the Soami Bagh mausoleum and the world-famous Taj Mahal, which attracts thousands of tourists daily. The Taj Mahal houses the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Officials involved in the construction said, “It represents a form of worship that has persisted and will continue tirelessly.”

The Soami Bagh mausoleum is located within a community of Radha Soami faith adherents, which has millions of followers in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Karnataka, as well as in various countries abroad.

The original samadhi was a simple white sandstone structure. Construction of a new design by an architect from Allahabad began in 1904. Despite delays, work has been ongoing since 1922, primarily by hand, on the expansive and intricately adorned construction. Artisans, some of whom have spent their entire lives working on the site, continue the tradition passed down through generations. While modern machinery assists their work, their craftsmanship remains meticulous.

The building’s architectural design does not adhere to any specific style, whether modern or traditional, though its conception leans towards oriental influences. There’s a concerted effort to blend various styles seamlessly. However, the sponsors of Soami Bagh, known as the ‘garden of the Lord,’ deny any intention to rival the Taj Mahal.

The 31.4-foot gold-plated pinnacle, taller than that of the Taj Mahal, required years of effort and a crane from Delhi for installation due to challenges in sourcing marble. Most marble comes from Makrana and Jodhpur, with mosaic stone from Nowshera, Pakistan, and semi-precious stones from Indian riverbeds. Despite leasing quarries in Mount Abu and Udaipur, acquiring high-quality marble posed difficulties, compounded by labor shortages as skilled masons migrated to Gulf countries. While the Taj Mahal remains a top tourist attraction for its grandeur, spiritually inclined individuals find solace in Soami Bagh, prompting comparisons with the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Top Airports

Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) has been ranked as the best airport in Canada, earning a score of 72.11 out of 100.

Serving approximately 930,000 passengers annually, YXE offers flights to 24 destinations and has 15 hotels within a two-mile radius.

The airport features a lounge and five distinct dining options. Reviews for YXE are excellent on Google –

“Great airport. I have been using it for years and it’s come along way. It’s nice and new. Easy to get around and nice spacious gates. I especially like the text parking spot in front that allows you to wait for guests instead of paying for parking.”

Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) ranks as the second best airport, achieving a score of 69.20 out of 100.

YQB serves 1.1 million passengers annually with 12 operating airlines and 34 destinations. The airport boasts eight dining facilities, seven on-site car rental companies, and 10 hotels within a two-mile radius.

St. John’s International Airport (YYT) ranks third with a score of 60.96 out of 100. It offers 23 destinations, two nearby hotels, nine dining facilities, eight operating airlines, one lounge, and seven on-site car rental companies.

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is the fourth-best Canadian airport, scoring 52.66 out of 100. YOW serves just under 3 million passengers annually with 11 airlines and 41 destinations. It features eight on-site car rental companies and 11 dining facilities.

Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT) ranks in the top five with a score of 52.48 out of 100. YQT offers 20 destinations and 16 airlines, with wifi, four dining facilities, but no lounges.

Rounding out the top ten best airports are Toronto Pearson International Airport, Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, and Greater Moncton International Airport.

CasinosHunter has released a new data index highlighting the best and worst airports in Canada.

Experts evaluated all 25 operating airports across the country, scoring each one out of 100 based on six key factors.

The rankings consider the number of outbound direct flight destinations, lounges, dining facilities, on-site car rental companies, hotels within a two-mile radius, and operating airlines.

Additionally, lounges, dining facilities, and hotels were assessed relative to the annual passenger traffic at each airport.

The Top and Bottom Canadian Airports

Worst Airports:

Saint John Airport (YSJ) is ranked the worst airport, scoring 22.08 out of 100. YSJ operates with two airlines, flying to three destinations. It has one dining facility, no lounges, three nearby hotels, and five on-site car rental companies.

Regina International Airport (YQR) is the second worst, scoring 22.36 out of 100. YQR offers 17 destinations, one lounge, four dining facilities, and five nearby hotels.

Fredericton International Airport (YFC) is the third worst, with a score of 25.79 out of 100. YFC has no lounges, one dining facility, four airlines, eight destinations, and five on-site car rental companies.

Prince George Airport (YXS) ranks fourth worst with a score of 27.92 out of 100. YXS operates six airlines, offers eight destinations, three dining facilities, and no nearby hotels.

Iqaluit Airport (FYB) is the fifth worst, scoring 28.27 out of 100. FYB has one dining facility, no lounges, one on-site car rental company, and two nearby hotels.

Rounding out the top ten worst airports are Victoria International Airport, Gander International Airport, Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, Charlottetown Airport, and Kelowna International Airport.

Mike Hunter, Founder of CasinosHunter has commented on the study findings:

“A trip to Canada should be an exciting, stress-free experience. Therefore, when choosing your Canadian destination, it is always good to choose a destination airport you feel comfortable flying into.

“Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport has great reviews on Google, achieving 4.2 out of 5, and recently received $1.76 million from the federal government for renovations.

“International airports often have a diverse selection of airlines and routes, and it is important for airports to be well-connected to various destinations, particularly Canadian ones.

“Reports have found that in 2022, nearly 117.3 million passengers boarded and disembarked planes at Canadian airports.

“As airports continue to fund and expand their facilities, we hope developments should help to make passenger’s travelling experience into Florida more seamless.”

Tourism bosses have described record international visitor numbers for Scotland in 2023 as a “turning point” for the industry.

Almost four million people from overseas visited the country last year, an increase of 15% on 2019, the last year before the Covid pandemic.

Unprecedented numbers from North America helped break the previous record of 3.7m, which was set in 2018.

Visitors to Scotland in 2023 spent £3.6bn – up 41% on 2019 and 13% on 2022 – although those increases do not account for inflation.

Scotland is the only part of the UK that has seen an increase in comparison to 2019, although the International Passenger Survey by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found that the majority of nations and regions saw growth compared to 2022.

VisitScotland’s chief executive Malcolm Roughead said international tourism was “hugely important” to the Scottish economy.

He added: “These figures mark a turning point for tourism in Scotland, showing not only recovery but crucially growth in international visitors with number of visits and spend now above 2019 levels.

Vicki Miller of VisitScotland told a news channel that the figures were a “significant milestone” for the tourism sector.

She estimated that just under 20% of visitors to Scotland now come from international markets.

She added: “That 19% from international markets is really important in terms of spend, because they stay longer and typically spend more. It accounts for 46% of the value of tourism to Scotland.”

VisitScotland’s own research suggested that visitors are increasingly looking for unique experiences, such as designing tartan or bagpipe lessons, which Ms Miller said reflected a desire for “once in a lifetime” holidays

Wellness activities, like wild swimming and food and drink trips, are also popular.

The figures revealed that visitors from North America were up by 16% and from Europe by 19%.

Tourists from “other countries”, a category including Australia and China, saw the greatest spike to 2022, soaring by 53%.

Congress has just passed a landmark bill that establishes the policy framework for the American high-speed aviation industry.

This bipartisan and bicameral legislation reauthorizes the FAA for five years and mandates the agency to take steps towards certifying and integrating supersonic and high-speed aircraft into the U.S. aviation system. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 enables American companies, such as Venus, to innovate, test, and manufacture these aircraft domestically.

This achievement is a testament to the collaboration and dedication of key legislators, including House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO); Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA); House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA); and Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX). Venus also extends its gratitude to Representative Mike Collins (R-GA) for his leadership in high-speed aviation and to hometown Congressman Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) for his unwavering support.

The bill not only ensures that the United States will continue to lead in aviation in the coming years but also bolsters national defense and economic security.

“The entire Venus Aerospace team is thrilled to see that Congress and the Administration worked together to enact the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. This law paves the way forward for Venus and other American companies that are working to make high speed flight a reality. This is technology that will create new opportunities, prosperity, and keep our country safer and secure in the years ahead,” says Sassie Duggleby, CEO and Co-Founder.

Competitors like China and Russia have already made significant strides in high-speed aviation. This legislation ensures that the federal government is prepared as Venus and other American companies advance in deploying high-speed flight technologies. We believe it will revolutionize the world, create new opportunities, ensure continued prosperity for our country, and importantly, enhance our nation’s security.